Can't Modify "Main.swf"

[mdavis501]

I have purchased a template and it is running perfectly. Uploaded many files to my hosting server which supports php.

Desired to make a small change to the template and they required payment, which I did. Change worked perfectly. When they supplied the change, they sent another "main.swf" file and I merely uploaded that new file.

Now I'd like to make another small change. However, at $99 a change, it is becoming quite expensive and I'd like to try to make the small change myself (It's something like, when the user types in a message in the email form, allow it to be small letters instead of forcing to all caps which looks like screaming). When I open the main.swf file in Adobe Flash CS3 professional, I can see some variables but cannot debug nor have access to any script (using 2.0 or 3.0) which I can change.

Is there a way for me to make the changes? I'm assuming (but very limited knowledge here), that they are making the changes to a mail form or something of that nature, and recompile a new main.swf, and then use something that hides the scripting.

Think it's modifiable?

Thanks for your assistance.

Mike

[CyanBlue]

Howdy and Welcome... :)

SWF file is a binary file which is not really editable... We use FLA file & AS file to generate the SWF file that goes to the live server... So, you'd need the source file(s) so that you can make a change and create a new SWF file...

There are software that can 'recover' the source file out of the SWF file, but that won't really apply to your case...

How about asking them how much it will cost to buy the source file so that you have right to modify and generate it however way you want???

[mdavis501]

Hi Cyan,

Thanks for taking the time to answer. I did ask them about the source files...couple of thousand dollars, so not realistic to me.

I notice that you said that there are decompilers available, but it wouldn't apply in my case.....if I could produce the origianl .fla file and action scripts from the binary, wouldn't that then be modifiable? Or is that not in the legal realm?

Very much appreciate you taking the time to answer.

Mike

[CyanBlue]

Well... First of all, a decompiler will convert any SWF to FLA that is modifiable to a degree... There is no 100% guarantee for it though... If you want you could check out Sothink.com for more information...
http://www.sothink.com/product/flashdecompiler/

But I've got to tell you that it is not legal to do so in your case... I am no lawyer, but that's what I would feel if somebody else decompile it and use it on their own...

[cjx3711]

I've tried flash decompilers before and they are not very good.
First of all, they just chuck everything in one huge mess.
Sometimes, the FLA may not be able to recompile.
You could try requesting for the fla

[kkbbcute]

I've tried flash decompilers before and they are not very good.
First of all, they just chuck everything in one huge mess.
Sometimes, the FLA may not be able to recompile.
You could try requesting for the fla

QFT,
The basic idea is, just ask nicely for the source file, its easier and will result in less trouble for you.